Gently fizzing champagne in a crystal glass was once seen as the height of sophistication and preserve of the rich and famous.

Now its golden bubbles are known as the preferred poison of footballers' wives and Ab Fab's Patsy and Eddie, and knocked back from the bottle by Burberry-wearing chavs and hen parties in white limos on a Saturday night on Broad Street.

And so begins Birmingham's reign as the champagne capital of the UK.

The city has beaten the London borough of Kensington into second place as champagne capital of Britain, with sales in the city up 28 per cent and more bottles bought in Birmingham than anywhere else in the country last year, according to Tesco.

Mark Murphy, director of Tesco Wines, said he was not surprised at the findings, claiming regeneration projects in Birmingham were changing local tastes.

He said: "Birmingham is a contender for European City of Culture in 2008 and Bill Clinton who visited there as US President in 1998 told the world what a great place the city was.

"Birmingham's canal system at Brindleyplace has also been transformed and the city also has a world-class Symphony Hall.

"All this has helped create a new air of optimism and forward thinking that is reflected in Birmingham folk's new-found taste for champagne."

Michelin-starred restaurants Jessica's and Simpsons, both in Edgbaston, have also helped Birmingham take its place on the national stage when it comes to food and drink.

Simpsons stocks every Grand Mark Champagne and has the biggest list of Dom Perignon special reserves in the country, some of which cost several hundred pounds.

Andreas Antona, Michelin-starred chef and owner of Simpsons, said: "Champagne is more popular than it has ever been, and getting bigger. People start drinking it as a status symbol but once you start drinking it you want to discover different types."

But Martin Collins, bar manager of Zinc Bar and Grill, on Broad Street, believes champagne is no longer a drink for the rich and is swigged by people from all walks of life, partly because it has not increased much in price in recent years.

He said: "Champagne is becoming increasingly popular and it's not necessarily about the taste. We attract customers who want to look good, and drinking champagne is all about image.

"It's become more accessible and everyone drinks it, regardless of where they come from or what they do. It's not just men in suits who buy it. We are also trying to up sales by offering incentives to the staff if they sell it."

He said the bar's most popular brand is Moet & Chandon, at £41.50, because people recognise the name.

Zinc's most expensive champagne is a 1989 Louis Roederer Cristal, priced at £340, of which they sell about two bottles a week.

Christian Delteil, managing director of Bank Restaurants, said sales of champagne at Birmingham's Bank, in Brindleyplace, had also increased recently.

He said: "People are definitely drinking more champagne because of a lifestyle change. A lot of people choose to drink less, but of a better quality.

"It's a very lady-like drink and is becoming more popular with women in particular. Champagne cocktails are also very popular, which has pushed sales up."

He said promotions, like Bank's offer of lobster for £15 and champagne for £25 in July and August, had added to the drink's popularity.

The most popular of Bank's ten brands of champagne is its house champagne, Piper-Heidseck, for £35, but it also stocks Louis Roderer Cristal for £189, Dom Perignon for £140, and Bollinger Grande Annee for £95.